Kurdish Official to AFP: Damascus-SDF Talks 'Collapsed'

Talks between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Mazloum Abdi, head of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), have collapsed, according to a Kurdish official who spoke to the French News Agency (AFP). The official accused the Syrian central government of causing the negotiations to fail. The collapse of the talks comes at a critical time for the region, as the SDF seek to secure protection from Turkey, which threatens new military operations against Kurdish fighters in Syria. Cooperation with the Syrian government could provide the SDF with a political and military shield. The Kurdish official stressed the need for a firm and decisive stance from the international community, given the situation. The collapse of the talks exacerbates concerns about instability in Syria and the potential for escalation of the conflict.